“It’s still too hot. I’ll put it on when it starts to rain.”
He shrugged. “Your call.”
She headed deeper into the bush and though it hadn’t rained yet, the path was damp underfoot. They walked side by side in comfortable silence, their footfalls cushioned by inches of littered leaves. The rich aroma of eucalyptus oil filled her nostrils and she inhaled deeply. Partly to breathe in the fragrance of the bush, and partly to relax her racing heart. Every time the path narrowed and their arms brushed together, Emma’s skin tingled with awareness of their proximity. The path narrowed at one point, forcing them to walk single file before it widened again. She slowed until he drew alongside her. Turning, she looked into his eyes. She loved those fine lines which fanned out from the corners. Lines not caused by age, but from his easy smile and from squinting into the bright sunlight while he worked outdoors on the farm. She couldn’t wait to marry this man.
They came to a clearing and she stepped off the narrow path and climbed up onto a large rock overlooking open paddocks. The Blue Mountains formed a backdrop behind her. Tom stepped up beside her to take in the view. Together they waited under the still roiling gray sky. She tugged off her backpack and rifled through the contents for her water bottle. Annoyingly, Tom pulled a bottle from a side pocket of his pack and handed it to her. She closed her eyes and drank thirstily. At the next rumble of distant thunder, they started walking again.
“It’s going to rain soon,” he said.
Her eyes flicked upward and caught sight of the ominous clouds and darkening sky. A small shiver traveled down her spine.
Lightning lit the sky again followed by another crack of thunder. Emma frowned. “I thought you said the storm had passed.”
“This is the second front. Didn’t you check the forecast before you left home?”
The next flash of lightning was followed by a deep rumble of thunder and large drops of rain began to fall. It felt amazingly delicious against her overheated skin. She knew it was stupid to get wet, but it felt wonderful and intoxicating and exhilarating. She gave a hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music twirl and giggled as the rain fell heavier on her body.
Tom pulled off his sunglasses and eyeballed her. “Are you all right?”
“Perfectly all right, thank you for asking. Why?”
“You’re going to get soaked.”
“I happen to like the feel of the rain on my skin.” She was starting to get cold, but didn’t want him to know that.
“And I happen to like the rain on your skin too.”
His grin split his face from ear to ear and too late, she realized her now see-through T-shirt clung to her body, hiding nothing. She folded her arms across her chest and turned away from him, but it was too late. He had already received more than an eyeful.
“Nice look,” he said.
She let out a breath and started walking again. Less than two hundred meters further down the track, the heavens opened and dumped on them. Walking became tricky, their feet slipping on the thick carpet of gum leaves. Heavy droplets of rain cascaded and bounced off Tom’s oily waterproof Drizabone. Each drop of rain fell like a cold bullet against her soaked skin and she shivered uncontrollably. She was such a fool for not listening to him.
He pulled her close against the trunk of a large tree, which offered a modicum of protection from the bucketing rain. Raindrops splattered around them, falling like music on the canopy of leaves overhead. She’d forgotten how fast the summer storms rolled across the paddocks of Birrangulla and over the Blue Mountains toward Sydney.
“It’s a little too late for that,” Emma said wryly.
“Yeah but it offers some shelter which is better than nothing.” He stood beside her, hands on his hips, surveying her. In his hat and coat, he looked warm. And dry.
By contrast, the rain had plastered her own clothes to the contours of her body. “Your big golf umbrella would be handy around about now.”
Tom laughed.
“I may or may not have made a mistake not putting on my coat when you suggested.”
“Emma.” The way he said her name on a barely expelled breath made her look up. “Come here sweetie.” He unclipped the buttons of his coat and held his arms wide. Their gazes held for a long beat before she went willingly into his arms, leaning in and tucking her arms inside the jacket around his waist, absorbing his body heat.
His blue eyes darkened and she prepared herself for more teasing. She snuck a glance up and saw he wasn’t laughing at her.
“The first time I went on a solo hike, it snowed.”
Emma raised her eyebrows, keen to know the rest of the story.
“Yeah, it snowed. In the middle of January. I walked for hours in a T-shirt loving the way the snow melted on my skin.”
“That would have been magical.” It snowed once or twice each winter in Birrangulla, but snow in the middle of summer was rare. She knew it was possible high up in the mountains, but hadn’t experienced it herself.
“It was magical. But it was also madness. I hadn’t told anyone where I was going and if I didn’t know the trails as well as I did, it could have been a worse scenario.”
“What happened? Did they have to rescue you?” She envisaged SES crews and helicopters and television crews.
“No, but when I got home I had to be rescued from Mum. She went ballistic.”
Emma laughed. She could imagine Judy’s panic.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” She snuggled into him, warm, cocooned, protected, but when he didn’t say anything, she pulled back and looked at him, narrowing her eyes. “You do remember I said yes already – you don’t have to ask me again.”
He kissed the end of her nose. “Yes I remember and I can’t wait. Not long now. But this is a serious question, Em. You made a comment once that’s stuck with me. I could never figure out what you meant.”
Her breath caught.
“I know I’m a guy, and apparently guys have pretty bad memories, but I can’t help feeling like I’m missing something important. You said something once about us being together once when we were teenagers. What did you mean?”
A rolling, fluttery feeling filled her stomach. She blinked rapidly and averted her gaze.
He ran a finger down her cheek and lifted her jaw, turning her face toward his. “Tell me.” His voice was soft and quiet, the tone telling her he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
She drew in a deep breath then let out a sound that was dangerously close to coming across as a sob. She recovered and took in another shaky breath. She closed her eyes and dropped her head to her chest. “We slept together ten years ago, but you don’t remember,” she whispered.
“What?”
Humiliation flooded through her. She closed her eyes and it was as though she was back there again: that hot summer night. No moon. No breeze. No escape from the heat of the day.
“What did you say?” he asked again.
She swallowed. “We slept together.”
She braved a glance and saw his stunned expression. His eyes were liquid pools of confusion.
More memories flooded her mind. The sound of crickets. The sound of water lapping against the edges of the dam. And the sound of young people enjoying themselves. Everyone except her. She’d gone with a friend and her friend had passed out drunk before ten o’clock, leaving Emma alone.
“Do you remember the party on the night of muck-up day?”
Muck-up day was the last day of school for Australian kids. Banned by many schools, kids still chose to ‘muck up’ – either by wearing costumes or defacing their school uniforms. Sometimes they mucked up and did a whole lot worse.
Tom shook his head. “Barely.”
She shrugged. He’d confirmed what she’d figured all along. He hadn’t forgotten about the night. He didn’t know it happened.
“You were with Kim.”
Tom nodded. “And?” he prompted.
“A bunch of us went up
to Chiefly Dam near Bathurst and camped overnight.”
“I vaguely remember that.”
Emma had thought a lot about what had occurred between them over the years, but she’d never imagined standing there and telling him about it. Not like this. She folded her arms across her chest and shivered. She stared unseeing into the bush.
“Emma? What happened?”
She wasn’t being deliberately quiet to annoy him. She was gathering her scattered thoughts.
“You were with Kim but you had a fight and she left with another guy.”
He let out a puff of air. “Yeah, I remember that. That was the last time we spoke. After she left I drank a fair few stubbies.”
“You did. Then you climbed into the back of your ute and got in your swag and fell asleep.”
“That sounds about right.”
“And you don’t remember what happened after that?” she asked.
Tom shook his head.
Emma sighed. “I’m ashamed at what I’m about to tell you. I was determined to lose my virginity that night, but everyone was already partnered up. Except me. I found you lying alone, sprawled out fast asleep, so I crawled into your swag and eventually drifted off to sleep. You were so warm and smelled so good and the alcohol and ambience of the overhead stars lulled me to sleep. When I woke hours later, the campsite was quiet and I had never felt so at peace in my entire life, lying in your arms.”
She paused, licked her lips, took another deep breath.
“You started kissing me. And because I had a stupid teenage crush on you, I let you. What happened afterward was incredible, but when you promptly fell asleep and I tried to wake you, you muttered, “Leave me alone Kim.”
“God, no. Really? We had sex? I thought you were Kim?”
Emma nodded and prayed she wouldn’t cry. “I stared at you, willing you to wake up and realize it was with me, but you didn’t. I was so ashamed I crawled from your swag and left.” In complete confusion and utter devastation, she’d trudged home. When she arrived at her parents’ house hours later, her feet blistered, the sun had been starting its slow rise in the eastern sky.
Tom let out a long, slow breath.
“It was a long time ago. I should have gotten over it.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No. Not until I met Lleyton.”
They stood in silence and Emma leaned back and gazed up at the sky. Perfectly clear now, it was littered with stars like diamonds on a blanket of black velvet.
Finally Tom spoke again. “Do you forgive me?”
She nodded. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
He cupped the back of her neck and gently turned her to face him. Slowly he lowered his lips to hers. She smiled into his mouth and ran her fingers into his hair. She felt him tremble, sensed he was holding back, knew he was sorry. She kissed him gently in return and knew they’d never need to talk about it again.
“You know how I wanted to sleep in a swag under the stars?” she asked.
Tom nodded.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
He laughed.
“I’m wet, cold, hungry and I’d much rather be home in bed.”
His eyes narrowed and glassed over, turning from blue to navy. “With me?”
“Who else?”
The minute his arms went around her, everything faded away except the sweet scent of his aftershave and the feel of his back muscles on her fingertips. When she felt his lips brush her neck and hold there for the sweetest of seconds, that’s when she melted, turning into a puddle of longing. She wasn’t sure she would be able to pull away. Nor did she want to.
Chapter 31
It was a gloriously mild autumn day in early April. Family and friends had gathered in the orchard at Lexton Downs and were enjoying an old-fashioned-style high tea in celebration of Tom and Emma’s engagement. The late afternoon sun shone against a cloudless pale blue backdrop. There was enough warmth in the sun that no one needed coats. Leaves sprinkled down from the trees, covering the ground in a crunchy layer of golden confetti. Plates of sandwiches and scones slathered with homemade jam and fresh whipped cream were passed around as the small group of guests stood in the pale sunlight sipping champagne.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tom whispered. His breath tickled her cheek like a butterfly’s kiss.
“Of course I’m sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” She wasn’t nervous and had no doubts about their decision.
“You’re the one who doesn’t like secrets, yet you have to admit this is a pretty big one.”
“It’s a surprise, not a secret.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Of course there is. Anyway, it’s not a secret between us so that’s all that matters.”
Tom pulled her close and kissed her. “Go and get ready then and I’ll get this party started.”
Emma searched for her mum and found her on the other side of the garden. Lorraine looked up and mother and daughter shared a small smile. With a nod, Emma snuck away from the crowd and onto the veranda of the homestead where she could see and hear what was happening on the other side of the hedged orchard, but not be seen by the guests. Her mum found her a few minutes later, shortly followed by her dad.
“Are you ready love?” Sean asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Tom’s going to get everyone lined up in position in the orchard now,” Lorraine said.
“Does he have the flowers?”
Lorraine nodded. “Relax, love. It’s all sorted.”
Emma pulled out a small lipstick and retouched her lips. With her mum’s help, she brushed her hair and pulled half of it up and away from her face, leaving the rest hanging in loose curls down her back.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me doing this?” she asked her parents.
Sean squeezed Emma tight. “Not at all, love. We understand why you both want to keep this simple.”
Tom clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention. Her stomach knotted with nerves as she smoothed the front of her dress with sweaty palms. Nothing else could be done now except pray their plan worked. She crossed her fingers behind her back and hoped Tom wouldn’t mind that she had another secret in store for him.
“Thanks for coming,” Tom said. His voice was loud and clear and carried easily to where Emma and her parents remained hidden from view. “While Emma is inside, I’d like to ask you all to help me carry out a special surprise for her today.”
The guests went silent.
“As most of you know, the day after I asked Emma to marry me she was involved in a serious car accident. I never had the chance to get down on one knee, propose properly, and give her the ring I want to give her. I’d like to do that today.”
There were oohs and aahs from the group and Emma smiled. They were in for a bigger surprise than she supposedly was. Lorraine squeezed her hand as Tom continued.
“Emma’s parents are in on the surprise and her dad is going to walk her down this aisle of fruit trees and present her to me. That’s my chance to get down on bended knee and ask her to marry me again in front of all of you.”
“That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” someone gushed. It sounded like one of Emma’s friends from work.
“The way it’s going to work, I’m going to give each of you a flower and ask you to line the aisle and present her with a flower to complete a special bouquet.”
“When did you become such a romantic Tommy boy?” a man’s voice called out. There was raucous laughter.
Emma and her parents waited nervously. Emma pictured Tom with his basket of flowers, handing out the assorted blooms to their family and friends.
“Are you sure you told Tom he has to keep one flower for himself?” Emma asked.
“It’s fine love, it’s all sorted. He knows which one to give you.”
Emma drew in a deep breath. It would be okay. It would work out. The sounds of violins flooded the orchard through the speakers they’d set u
p earlier.
It was time.
Lorraine kissed Emma on the cheek and whizzed off to stand near Tom.
Emma looped her arm through her dad’s and they started their slow walk down the front steps of Lexton Downs toward the hedged entrance to the orchard. Sean unlatched the iron gate, swinging it inward. Emma gasped. Everyone was doing exactly as she and Tom had planned, forming an aisle between the rows of fruit trees. Each person held a single flower and a broad smile.
“Give me a minute,” she whispered as she wiped at a small tear which had formed in the corner of her eye.
She stood for a second gazing at the orchard, all set up for their surprise engagement party. She and Tom had spent the morning draping fairy lights in the trees for later that afternoon when dusk announced its arrival. She inhaled deeply, filling her nostrils with the smell of freshly mown grass, now mostly blanketed in the covering of dry leaves. The effect was more magical and more perfect and more beautiful than anything she’d ever dreamed or imagined or asked for.
Emma felt a sudden pain in her heart as she thought of Judy. She wished Tom’s mum could see them today. She would have been so happy.
Unexpected nerves fluttered low in her belly and she looked up to see Tom standing patiently waiting for her, a broad grin across his handsome face. His eyes beckoned her and as the music built and swelled, she took another tentative step forward.
Kate and Joel stood first in line, each with a sleeping baby in their arms. Their twins, Oscar and Angus, were only four weeks old.
“Your fiancé is the most romantic man in the world,” Kate said as she gave Emma a kiss and handed her a flower.
Joel coughed. “Hey, I’m standing right here, you know,” he said with a chuckle as he nudged Kate with his hip. He handed Emma a single rose. “He’s a good man, sis, and I’m happy for you.” He turned back to Kate. “I thought you said I was the most romantic man in the world.”
Kate giggled. “You are, but today the prize goes to Tom.”
Emma’s work colleagues were next then Nathan and Mackenzie. Mackenzie handed Emma two flowers. “One from me and one from this little princess,” she said, stroking her belly.
Life Support: Escape to the Country Page 27
